Adjustable stringer mold for concrete steps



April 10, 1951 R. L. CLINE ADJUSTABLE STRINGER MOLD FOR CONCRETE STEPS 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 6, 1948 PALPH L. C'L/A/E,

' I3 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY April 10, 1951 R. CLINE ADJUSTABLE STRINGER MOLD FOR CONCRETESTEPS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec.

FAA/ 4 ACE/us,

INVENTOR.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. e, 1948 84m 1 (z/us, IN VEN TOR.

Patented Apr. 10, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE STRINGERMOLD FOR CONCRETE STEPS Ralph L. 'Cline, Hickory, Application December6, 1948, Serial No. 63,767 Claims. (01. 25-118) This invention relatesto an adjustable riser supporting stringer for use in conjunction withforms for pouring concrete steps and the like.

i leretofore, there have been various means by which the riser memberswhich extend transversely between the side iorm members of concretesteps have been supported. The most commonly used means is that ofcutting notches in large timbers, such as 2 by 8's, the notches of whichare cut according to the rise and tread of the proposed steps to bepoured and the riser members were then nailed to the notches and thenthe riser supporting means, which are commonly called stringers, wouldbe rigidly mounted between the side forms of the concrete steps, in anysuitable manner, after which the concrete was poured against the risermembers between the side form members.

It is an object of this invention to provide a stringer comprised of anumber of parts and which may be easily disassembled for conveying thesame from one place to another.

' It is another object ,of this invention to provide a riser supportingstringer which comprises a plurality of L-shaped bars, the horizontallegs of which are disposed on,a horizontal plane, one above the otherbut in staggered relation to each other and the horizontal leg of eachof which is provided with albracket for connecting the same to thevertical leg of the next adjacent lower L-shaped barand these bracketsbeing adjustable on the horizontal as well as the vertical legs of theL-shaped members to provide means for adjusting the position of theL,-shaped or right angular members with respect to each other to conformto the desired height of the risers and the width ofthe treads of theproposed concrete steps.

It is another object of this invention to providea stringer of the typedescribed and Wherein each of the vertical legs of the rightangularmembers is provided with a vertically adjustable member to which theriser is adapted to ;be,secured and whereby the range of verticaladjustment of the vertically adjustable member ,will permit theutilization of any desired width of riser boards.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objectswill appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings which Figure l is atop plan view of theapparatus, hp n it .i a conjunc on w th s de. .Iorm mem e iq .9nq te tsandshqw nsi he concrete after it has been poured a a s w of the risers;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the apparatus with the central portionbrolgen away;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 3 -3 in Fiure 2;

Figure 4 is an elevation with parts in section maki g from a one the lne in F u e 2;

Figure 5 is an isometric view showing one of the assembled stringers andis tairen substantially along the line 3-3 in Figure 2;

Figure 6 is an enlarged inverted sectional plan vie an s t k n ubs anall a o t ne 6 B in Figure 3. 7

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the numerals l0 and I0indicate left-hand and right-hand vertically disposed side form panelswhich are reinforced by and suitably secured to spaced upstanding stakesII and l I, ,respective 0 ly, the lower ends of which project below thepanels l0 and i0 respectively, and are driven into the ground indicatedat G. Obviously, the stake ll would be of the same length as the heightof the side panel In in the event that the concrete steps were to bepoured on an impenetrable surface such as a concrete or wood floor. Theright-hand side form panel l0 and associated parts, being identical to.those at the ieft-handside, will bear the samereference characters withtheprime notation added, except the members comprising portions 40, 43and 50 9999511 ha Ifhe stakes ll are each supported-by an angularlydisposed brace bar J2 suitably nailed at its u pe nd to th ss c ate takev an at lower end to a smaller upstanding stake l3 which is also driveninto the ground G.

,A frame member {4 spans the distance betw en th sid p e 1.9 an a hlower front e e t er q' e d i may b bse e n F gures 3, igand .5 thatthisframe member I4 i dis se et th lo eft-hand corner 9 e de Penll" Thsid i an 10 m b n l orsecured in any other suitable manner to theopposite ends of the frame member J4. It may also be observed in Figures3,4 and 5 that the fighthand edge of thesidfi panel II] is nailed orsecured inany,othersuitablemanner to a frame member i5which spans thedistance between the S d Pane I." and The ,parts heretofore describedare the usual parts of conventional step forms and it is with theseparts thatgthisinvention is adapted to be as o ted.

Broadly, the invention is comprised of aplurality of L-shaped or rightangular bars, all of which are identical. However, due to the fact thatthose bars at the upper and lower ends of the stringer are secured tothe frame members of the form in a different manner and also due to thefact that the intermediate L-shaped members are secured to the uppermostand lowermost L- shaped members in a diiferent manner, the descriptionwill refer to the lower, the intermediate and the upper L-shaped bars bydifferent reference characters, for purposes of clarity.

In the drawings there are two stringer assemblies broadly designated at2|] and 2B, respectively. The stringer assembly 26 being identical inall respects to the stringer assembly 20, with the exception of variousof the parts being opposite hand, will bear the same referencecharacters as the stringer assembly 20 with the prime notation added. Itmight be stated that there may be any desired number of these stringerassemblies 20 placed at various points apart from each other between theside forms It and Ill, depending upon the width of the steps to bepoured, to thus lend rigidity to the center portions of the risers to bepresently described. It is evident that although both left-hand andright-hand stringer assemblies are shown in the drawings, if so desired,all of the stringer assemblies may be identical or they may be oppositehand as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4.

The stringer assembly 20 is shown in the drawings as comprising a lowerL-shaped bar 2|, an intermediate L-shaped bar 22 (of which there may beany desired number) and an upper L- shaped bar 23, all of which areidentical. The horizontal leg of the L-shaped bar 2| is adjustablymounted in a guide block. 24, secured as by screws 25 to the lower framemember M. A set screw 26 threadably penetrates the guide block 24 andbears against the horizontal leg of the bar 2| thus locking the same inadjusted position. The vertical leg of the L-shaped bar 2| slidablypenetrates a guide block 2'! which is identical to the guide block 24.This guide block 21 is secured as by screws 30 to the first riser 3|,the opposite ends of which are secured to the end form panels I and W inany suitable manner, such as by nailing.

The vertical leg of the L-shaped member 2| is adjustably secured in theguide block 27 as by a set screw 32 which threadably penetrates theguide block 21 and bears against the vertical legs of the L-shapedmember 2|. The vertical legs of the L-shaped bars 22 and 23 slidablypenetrate guide blocks which are identical to and bear the samereference character as the guide block 21, in which the vertical leg ofthe L- shaped member 2| is mounted. The guide block 21 in which thevertical leg of the L-shaped member 22 is mounted is secured by thescrews 30 to a second riser 35 and the guide block 2'! in which thevertical leg of the upper L-shaped member 23 is mounted is secured bythe screws 30 to the transverse frame member l between the side formpanels l0 and Hi.

'It will be noted that the lower outer edges of the risers 3| and 35 arebeveled thus forming a sharp edge at the inner lower edges of the risers3| and 35. This sharp edge on the lower edge of the riser 3| is notessential, however; the sharp edge at the bottom of the riser 35 isprovided so that after the concrete C has been poured between the sideform panels l0 and I0 and against the inner surfaces of the risers 3|and 35, a mason will be able to finish practically the entire uppersurface of the tread smoothly to the juncture of the tread and the riserformed by the riser member 35.

The horizontal legs of the intermediate L- shaped member 22 as well asof the upper L- shaped member 23 are connected to the vertical legs ofthe L-shaped members 2| and 22, respectively in the identical mannerand, therefore, the parts associated with the vertical legs of theL-shaped bars 2| and 22 will bear the same reference character.

A portion of the horizontal leg of the L-shaped bar 22 is slidablymounted between the flanges of a channel-shaped member 40 having spacedvertically disposed bars welded to and spamiing the distance between theflanges of the same and it is obvious that the channel bar 40 thusformed may be a tubular member which is rectangular in cross section ifso desired. A set screw 42 threadably penetrates one of the flanges ofthe channel bar 40 and adjustably secures the horizontal leg of theL-shaped member 22 in the channel bar 40.

A channel bar 43 is welded to the side of the channel bar 40 and extendsupwardly therefrom. This channel bar 43, like the channel bar 40, isprovided with cross-bars 44 which span the distance between and arewelded to the flanges of the channel bar 43 and it is obvious that thischannel bar 43 may also be a tubular member which is rectangular incross section. This channel bar 43 has the vertical leg of the L-shapedbar 2| mounted between the flanges thereof to permit vertical slidingmovement of the channel bar 43 on the vertical leg of the L-shaped bar2| as by a set screw 45 which threadably penetrates one of the flangesof the channel bar 43 and bears against the vertical leg of the L-shapedbar 2|.

t is thus seen that, since the channel bar 40 is integral with thechannel bar 43, vertical adjustment of the channel bar 43 will alsoadjust the horizontal leg of the L-shaped bar 22 in a vertical planerelative to the vertical leg of the L-shaped bar 2| It will be notedthat the guide blocks 21 are cut at an angle as at 46 at their lowerends which will thus permit the bottom edge of the horizontal leg of anyone of the L-shaped bars 2| to 23 inclusive, to be adjusted flush withthe lower end of its associated block 21.

by a channel bar 55 which is also loosely penetrated by the bolt 5| andthe head of the bolt 5| is disposed in a counterbore 54 in the web ofthe channel bar 53 so that the head of the bolt 5| will be flush withthe inner surface of the web of the channel bar 53. It will be noted inFigure 6 that the upper end of the bolt 5| has lock nuts 55 threadablymounted thereon and which will permit oscillation of the channel bar 50,the washer 52 and the channel bar 53, relative to each other, on thebolt 5|. It might be stated that a rivet may be used, if desired, inlieu of the bolt 5| and have its ends peened or turned over in such amanner as to permit the relative 5. oscillatory movement between thechannel bars 50 and 53 and the washer 52.

The channel bar 53', which may be a tubular member, rectangular incross-section, if so desired, has cross-bars 56 welded to and spanningthe distance between its flanges, and an angularly. disposed brace bar51 is slidably mounted in the channel bar 53 and one of the cross-bars56 has an adjustment screw 80 threadably penetrating the same andbearing against the brace bar 51 to adjustably secure the brace in thechannel bar 53. It will be noted that due to. the relation of the L-shaped bars 2 l, 22 and 23 to each other, the brace bar cannot extendin parallel relation to the longitudinal axis of the stringer assembly20 and thus the loose connection between the channel bar 58 and thechannel bar 53 is provided as shown in Figure 6 and heretoforedescribed.

It will be noted that the brace bar 5'! extends between and slidablypenetrates the channel bar 53 associated with the vertical legs of eachof the L-shaped bars 2!, and 22 and the upper end of the brace bar 5'!has welded thereto a cuff member 62 which is adapted to slidably receivethe lower end of another of the brace bars 51 in the event that thereare to be more than one intermediate L-shaped member 22, as would be thecase in the event that the steps were to have more than two risers. 'Thecuff member 62 is threadably penetrated by a set screw 63 which engagesand secures the lower end of the second bar 51 to the first bar 51.

Referring to Figures 3 and i, it may be noted that the angularly cutbottom at on the guide blocks 21 allows for adjustment of the verticallydisposed channel bar 43 in such a manner as to provide a space betweenthe upper edges of the form riser members 3| and 35 and the lower edgesof the intermediate and upper L-shaped bars 22 and 23, respectively,thus leaving a space for passage of the masons trowel therethrough infinishing the top surface of the treads of the steps over which they aredisposed.

. If this apparatus is used to pour steps up to a landing 17, no rearwall would be required, but if used where no landing is present, then asuitable rear wall would be required. a

It is to be understood that as many sets of right angular members andassociated parts as desired may be used to suit the number of stepsrequired in each instance.

Also, even though, members H], II, l2, l3, I4, 15, 3! and 35 are shadedfor wood in some of the figures of the drawings, it is to be understoodthat these parts may be fibre board, metal, plastic,-or any othersuitable material.

It is thus seen that I have perfected a stringer for use in combinationwith the forms used in pouring concrete steps, which is simple inconstruction and which comprises a plurality of L- shaped members towhich the riser form members may be secured, and which may be adjustedwith respect to each other in such a manner as to accommodate any sizeof tread or rise in the pouring of concrete steps. Another feature 2this invention is that it may be assembled or disassembled with aminimum of tools and may be stored, when not in use, in a very limitedspace.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferredembodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not forpurposes of limitation,

the scope of the invention being defined'in the claims. Y

I claim: I l. A stringer for supporting riser form members againstwhichconcretet is poured in the forming of concrete steps comprisingupper and lower transverse frame members disposed at the landing of andat the foot of the steps, respectively, guide blocks secured to theuppermost of the frame members and to the vertical outer surfaces.

of each of the risers, a plurality of L-shaped members each having ahorizontal leg and a vertical leg, the vertical legs of which slidablypene trate the guide blocks, clamping means associated.

with the guide blocks for clamping the vertical legs of the L-shapedmembers and guide blocks in fixed relation to each other, said L-shapedmembers comprising intermediate L-shaped members, an upper L-shapedmember and a lower L-shaped member, a portion of the horizontal legs ofthe L-shaped members being disposed adjacent the vertical legs of thenext adjacent L-shaped members, means associated with the vertical legsof the L-shaped members for securing the horizontal legs of the adjacentL-shaped members thereto. 7

2. In a form against which concrete is poured in the forming of concretesteps comprising end wall members and transverse frame members and risermembers, lower, upper and intermediate L-shaped members, each of theL-shaped members having a horizontal and a vertical leg, guide blockssecured to each of said riser members and said transverse frame members,means for adjustably securing the horizontal leg of the lowerL-shapedmember in the guide block on one of the transverse frame membersand means for securing the vertical leg of the upper L-shaped member inthe guide block on another of thetransverse frame members, means foradjustably securing the vertical legs of the lower and the intermediateL-shaped members in the guideblocks on the adjacent riser members, andmeans for adjustably securing the horizontal legs of theintermediate andthe upper L-shaped members to the adjacent vertical legs of the lowerand intermediate L-shaped members.

3. In a form against which concrete is poured in the forming of concretesteps comprising end wall members and transverse frame members and risermembers, lower, upper and intermediate L-shaped members, each of theL-shaped mem-- bers having a horizontal and a vertical leg, means. foradjustably securing the horizontal leg of the: lower L-shaped member toone of the transverse frame members and mean for securing the verticalleg of the upper L-shaped member to another of the transverse framemembers, means for adjustably securing the vertical legs of the lowerand the intermediat L-shaped members to adjacent riser members, andmeans for adjustably securing the horizontal legs of the intermediateand the upper L-shaped member to the adjacent vertical legs of the lowerand intermediate L-shaped members, said means for adjustably securingthe horizontal legs of the inter.- mediate and upper L-shaped members'tothe adjacent vertical legs of the lower and intermediate L-shapedmembers comprising a tubular member adjustably mounted on the verticallegs of each of the intermediate L-shaped members and the lower L-shapedmember, a horizontally disposed tubular member connected to thevertically disposed tubular member adjacent its lower end for slidablyreceiving the adjacent horizontal legs of the intermediate and upperL-shaped members, locking means associated with the vertically disposedand horizontally disposed tubular members for adjustably securing thehorizontal and vertical legs of adjacent L-shaped members inpredetermined relation to each other.

4. In a form against "which concrete is poured in the forming ofconcrete steps comprising end wall members and transverse frame membersand riser members, lower, upper and intermediate L-shaped members, eachof the L-shaped members having a horizontal and a vertical leg, meansfor adjustably securing the horizontal leg of the lower L-shaped memberto one of the transverse frame members and means for securing thevertical leg of the upper L-shaped member to another of the transverseframe members, means for adjustably securing the vertical legs of thelower and the intermediate L-shaped members to adjacent riser members,and means for adjustably securing the horizontal legs of theintermediate and the upper L-shaped members to the adjacent verticallegs of the lower and intermediate L- shaped members, said means foradjustably securing the horizontal legs of the intermediate and upperL-shaped members to the adjacent vertical legs of the lower andintermediate L-shaped members comprising a tubular member adjustablymounted on the vertical legs of each of the intermediate L-shapedmembers and the lower L- shaped member, a horizontally disposed tubularmember connected to the vertically disposed tubular member adjacent itslower end for slidably receiving the adjacent horizontal legs of theintermediate and upper L-shaped members, looking means associated withthe vertically disposed and horizontally disposed tubular members foradjustably securing the horizontal and vertical legs of adjacentL-shaped members in predetermined relation to each other, a diagonallydisposed brace member extending from the upper end of each of thevertically disposed tubular members, to one end of its associatedhorizontally disposed tubular member, a tubular member pivotallyconnected to the diagonally disposed brace member, a diagonally disposedbrace bar extending from adjacent the vertical leg of the lower L-shapedmember past and adjacent the vertical leg of each of the intermediateL-shaped members and slidably penetrating each of the tubular memberswhich is pivotally connected to the diagonally disposed bar and meansfor locking the diagonally disposed brace bar in the tubular membersthrough which it extends.

5. In a form against which concrete is poured in the forming of concretesteps comprising end wall members and transverse frame members and risermembers, lower, upper and intermediate 8 L-shaped members, each of theL-shaped members having a horizontal and a vertical leg, means foradjustably securing the horizontal leg of the lower L-shaped member toone of the transverse frame members and means for securing the verticalleg of the upper L-shaped member to another of the transverse framemembers, means for adjustably securing the vertical leg of the lower andthe intermediate L-shaped members to adjacent riser members, and meansfor adjustably securing the horizontal legs of the intermediate and theupper L-shaped members to the adjacent vertical legs of the lower andintermediate L-shaped members, said means for adjustably securing thehorizontal legs of the intermediate and upper L- shaped members to theadjacent vertical legs of the lower and intermediate L-shaped memberscomprising a tubular member adjustably mounted on the vertical legs ofeach of the intermediate L-shaped members and the lower L-shaped member,a horizontally disposed tubular member connected to the verticallydisposed tubular member adjacent its lower end for slidably receivingthe adjacent horizontal legs of the intermediate and upper L-shapedmembers, locking means associated with the vertically disposed andhorizontally disposed tubular members for adjustably securing thehorizontal and vertical legs of adjacent L-shaped members inpredetermined relation to each other, a diagonally disposed brace mem-'ber extending from the upper end of each of the vertically disposedtubular members, to one end of its associated horizontally disposedtubular member, a tubular member pivotally connected to the diagonallydisposed brace member, a diagonally disposed brace bar extending fromadjacent the vertical leg of the lower L-shaped member past and adjacentthe vertical leg of each of the intermediate L-shaped members andslidably penetrating each of the tubular members which is pivotallyconnected to the diagonally disposed bar and means for locking thediagonally disposed brace bar in the tubular members through which itextends, a cufi member integral with the upper end of the diagonallydisposed brace bar for receiving the lower end of a second brace bardisposed in alinement with the first brace bar and means for locking thelower end of the second brace bar in the cuff member.

RALPH L. CLINE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,106,627 Cornelius Aug. 11, 1914

